Thursday, May 31, 2012

Early Childhood News


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JOBS
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Research Assistant for the Psychology department
UMass Boston BabyLab



Project Director - Education and Child Care Data Archive
Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research, University of Michigan



Early Childhood Division Director
Children’s Aid Society



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CONFERENCES
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Free webinar from Early Childhood Investigations
Using ECE Technology DAP-Style! Top Questions Answered
June 6, 2012 2:00 PM Eastern Time



5th National Research Conference on Child and Family Programs and Policy
July 24-26, 2012
Bridgewater State University, Massachusetts



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RESOURCES
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Video: Putting Quality First: Improving Children's Experiences in Child Care and Early Learning
New America Foundation



End-of-Year Transitions and Celebrations
National Association for the Education of Young Children



Measuring Child Poverty: New league tables of child poverty in the world's rich countries
UNICEF Innocenti Report Card 10



Intrinsic Motivation and Early Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education



Human Development Today e-News
Spring 2012



The Latest Resources: QRIS National Learning Network Website
May 2012



Zero to Three

Healthy Minds: Nurturing Your Child’s Development from 0 to 2 Months

Getting Ready to Read: Helping Your Child Become a Confident Reader and Writer Starting from Birth



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GRANTS
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Regional Partnership Grants to Increase the Well-Being of, and to Improve the Permanency Outcomes for, Children Affected by Substance Abuse
Administration for Children and Families



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NEWS
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The #earlyed Daily



Commentary: It's time for business leaders to invest in Michigan children



Parents can build in 'special time' with kids this summer
USA Today, 05/30/12



How Much Time Do Young Children Spend Using Technology in School?
ECETech.net, 05/29/12



TAKE A SAFETY SAFARI... Helping kids stay safe while learning to take risks
Moving Smart, 05/28/12



How ed policy is hurting early childhood education
TheWashingtonPost, 05/26/12



'Why' Questions Play Big Role in Early Learning
Education Week Early Years, 05/25/12



'Goldilocks Effect': Babies Learn When Things Aren't Too Complex, Too Simple
ABC News, 05/24/12



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ADVOCACY
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Early Care & Learning Council

Letter: Don't cut funding for child care (Times Union, 05/24/12)

POLICY and ADVOCACY ALERT: CCR&R RFP Available on OFCS Online Bidders List

POLICY and ADVOCACY ALERT: CCR&R FUNDING REDUCED STATEWIDE



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Asil Özdoğru, PhD
Evaluation Specialist

A Message From New York Women Vote

Issues of access to, and quality of child care, are important to millions of New York women. We want to make sure that your voice is heard during the upcoming elections. Please see the message below from New York Women Vote: 


POLITICIANS PAY ATTENTION TO VOTERS

You build clout for your work and your mission by encouraging your supporters and clients to register and vote.

Elected officials are human – they respond, like most people, to those people who care about the things that they do, and, of course, those who support them. A community or group of residents who don’t vote, or who vote in low numbers, make it easier for elected officials to de-prioritize their concerns.

Issues that matter to marginalized communities often are the first to fall to the budget axe, if they're addressed at all. If we're going to be sure that these issues get the attention they deserve from elected officials, we've got to build clout by insuring that all eligible New Yorkers are civically engaged and VOTE!

Your Vote Counts

Too many people are under the mistaken impression that their vote doesn’t count. But it is the alarming fact that so few people vote in most elections that getting an additional 200 or 300 hundred people to vote can make a huge difference.


In some contested primary elections, fewer than 2,500 people in total vote. Imagine the impact of just 200 additional votes in these recent close elections:

  • AD89 (2010 Westchester) - Robert Castelli won by 112 votes out of 42,414 cast
  • AD100 (2010 Mid-Hudson) - Thomas Kirwan defeated the incumbent by 15 votes out of 31,267 cast
  • SD27 (2012 South Brooklyn) - David Storobin leads Lew Fidler by 27 votes going into a hand recount

Registration is the First Step to Voting

In the U.S., no one can vote if they don't first register. In order to register to vote in New York State you must:

  • Be at least 18 years old by the date of the election
  • Be a citizen of the United States
  • Be a resident of New York State
  • Have lived at your current address for at least 30 days before an election

You can obtain a registration form to print out and mail in at this website: http://www.elections.ny.gov/VotingRegister.html

Because there are three more elections coming up this year, there are three different deadlines to register. Registration forms need to be postmarked or registrations completed in person at the local Board of Elections by the deadline in order to be able to vote for the upcoming elections.


Registration Deadline
June 26:
Congressional Primary
September 11:
State Legislative Primary
November 6:
Presidential General Elections
June 1
X
X
X
August 17

X
X
October 12


X

*Anyone registering before any of these deadlines is eligible to vote in the November election.

Helpful Links:

*Download and share the above information from New York Women Vote Coalition.

National and Local Voter registration Laws to be Aware of:


National Voter Registration Act (Section 7, Agency-based Voter Registration)


Section 7 of the NVRA requires state public assistance agencies to provide voter registration services to applicants and clients. Such offices that must provide services include those administering benefits such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Medicaid, State Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. New York State additionally designated the Department of Social Services, the Department of Health, and “all agencies of local government that provide such assistance.”


Certain state-funded agencies must also provide voter registration services. They are: Department of Labor, Office for the Aging, Division of Veterans’ Affairs, Offices of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, Commission on Quality of Care for the Mentally Disabled, Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Commission for the Blind and Visually Handicapped, Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services, Office of the Advocate for the Disabled, and “all offices which administer programs established or funded by such agencies.”


The NVRA requires that voter registration services be provided with each application, recertification or renewal, or change of address related to benefits. With each such application, recertification or renewal, and change of address relating to benefits, a public assistance agency must:


Provide the individual with a voter registration application;


  • Provide the individual with a form, commonly called a “Declination Form,” that contains the question, “If you are not registered to vote where you live now, would you like to apply to register to vote here today?” along with several other statutorily-required statements;
  • Provide each client choosing to register with the same degree of assistance in completing the voter registration application as would be provided in completing the agency’s own forms; and
  • Transmit all completed voter registration applications to the appropriate election official within a prescribed amount of time.


New York City Pro-Voter Law  


New York City passed the Pro-Voter Law in 2003 to help increase voter participation. A wide array of city agencies must now offer voter registration forms to all persons together with: 1) written applications for services, 2) renewal or recertification for services, and 3) changes of address relating to such services. Participating agencies must also include voter registration forms with mailings relating to client application, renewal, or recertification for services, or changes of address. Online communications relating to application for services, renewal or recertification for services, and change of address relating to such services must also incorporate an opportunity for persons to request a voter registration application.


City agencies that must offer voter registration forms:


The Administration for Children's Services, the City Clerk,  the Civilian Complaint Review Board, the  Commission on Human Rights, Community Boards, the Department of Small Business Services, the Department of Citywide Administrative Services, the Department of Consumer Affairs, the Department of Correction, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of Finance, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Department of Homeless Services, the Department of Housing Preservation and  Development, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Department of Probation, the Taxi and Limousine Commission, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Youth and Community Development.


*Thanks to Susan Lerner, Executive Director of Common Cause New York and a member of the New York Women Vote Coalition, for writing most of the sections of this InfoNet. 


_____________________________________________________


NEW YORK WOMEN VOTE (NYWV)

FPWA has joined a recently formed coalition to increase the engagement of women voters in the city and state called NY Women Vote (NYWV). The Mission and Principles of NYWV are:

Mission

We leverage our collective power to set a bold agenda by and for women, transcending political differences to better the lives of women and families. 

We mobilize and educate women as voters, policy advocates, and community leaders to build a unified movement that will impact elections and advance critical and lasting/enduring change.

Principles

  • We stand on the shoulders of New York women who came before us, building on a legacy of equal rights and equal opportunity.
  • We believe that all women have the right to determine their own health and well-being.
  • We speak our truth, listen to one another, and learn from our diverse opinions.
  • We are committed to increasing women's participation in all aspects of our democracy.

There are over 25 organizations participating in the coalition including:

  • Common Cause New York
  • Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies
  • National Council of Jewish Women-New York
  • National Organization for Women-New York City

For more information on NYWV, contact Bich Ha Pham at bhpham@fpwa.org or 212-801-1311 or Liz Accles at laccles@fpwa.org or 212-801-1393.


Tuesday, May 29, 2012

POLICY and ADVOCACY ALERT


CCR&R FUNDING REDUCED STATEWIDE


In the new RFP released last week, funding for all CCR&Rs decreased by $846,168. 


Using Current configurations of CCR&Rs
  • 4 have the same level of funding
  • 6 have increased funding
  • 23 have lost funding, including NYC (5 CCR&Rs) which lost the most- $382,386


Funding for Infant Toddler remains flat funding at $1.1 million 
Furthermore, there are no incentive dollars for multiple counties, which have always been included in the past. 

With a governor looking at regional work, we must ask why incentive dollars are not included? (Ask Governor Cuomo why: 518- 474-8390)  


Call your elected officials and county commissioners  regarding this cut!  Have you parents and providers in your communities make calls too!


With the overwhelming majority of CCR&Rs losing substantial funds we need officials to discuss this issue with Commissioner Carrión, the Office of Children and Family Services and the Governor! Please contact the officials in your area to ensure that the statewide impact of these cuts is heard in Albany.

Proposals must be submitted by 6/29/12
Questions concerning the RFP must be submitted by 6/8

From the issuance of this RFP until contractors are selected, all contacts with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services personnel, except as otherwise specified herein, concerning this RFP must be made through:

Diane Miller, Program Manager
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Division of Child Care Services
South Building, 3rd Floor, Room 309
52 Washington Street
Rensselaer, New York 12144-2796

or via email at (ocfs.sm.dccs.CCRR.RFP.2012@ocfs.state.ny.us) for the Child Care Resource and Referral Services and (ocfs.sm.dccs.Regional.IT.2012@ocfs.state.ny.us) for Infant Toddler Regional Services. 

Please enter the Bidder’s Organization’s name in the Subject line.
All inquiries must be submitted in writing, and will be responded to in writing by hard copy or by email.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Sincerely,
Jessica
Jessica Klos Shapiro
Policy Associate
(518) 690-4217 ex. 32


Friday, May 25, 2012

POLICY and ADVOCACY ALERT


CCR&R RFP Available on OFCS Online Bidders List

FUNDING REDUCED STATEWIDE

In the new RFP it appears that funding for CCR&R services have received an overall cut of more than $700,000.  Last year contacts totaled $21,885,000 including $1.1 million for Infant Toddler Regional Services. In the new Request For Proposal, funding will total $21,100,000 with $20 million allocated to CCR&Rs and $1.1 million remaining for Infant Toddler Services.  This represents a cut of 3.75% statewide.


Timetable of Key Events
Event:                                                 Date:
Proposals Due                                       06/29/12 by 5:00 p.m.
Submittal of Question Deadline                06/08/12
Posted Date of Answers                          06/15/12
Awards Announced (Tentatively)               07/31/12
Projected Contract Start Date                  10/01/12


Call your elected officials regarding this cut!  Remind them that CCR&Rs are what support parents, communities and the economy.  Ask them to discuss this issue with their colleagues and question this decision!

Inquiries:

From the issuance of this RFP until contractors are selected, all contacts with the New York State Office of Children and Family Services personnel, except as otherwise specified herein, concerning this RFP must be made through:

Diane Miller, Program Manager
New York State Office of Children and Family Services
Division of Child Care Services
South Building, 3rd Floor, Room 309
52 Washington Street
Rensselaer, New York 12144-2796

or via email at (ocfs.sm.dccs.CCRR.RFP.2012@ocfs.state.ny.us) for the Child Care Resource and Referral Services and (ocfs.sm.dccs.Regional.IT.2012@ocfs.state.ny.us) for Infant Toddler Regional Services. Please enter the Bidder’s Organization’s name in the Subject line.

All inquiries must be submitted in writing, and will be responded to in writing by hard copy or by email.

We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Sincerely,
Jessica
Policy Associate
(518) 690-4217 ex. 32

Early Childhood News


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JOBS
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Lab Coordinator/Research Assistant in Child Language Learning
Northwestern University



Lab Manager (Job #36685)
Penn State Cognitive and Social Development Lab


Learning Designer
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.



NIH-Funded Postdoctoral Fellowship: Preschool Executive Function and Social-Emotional Outcomes among Prenatally-Exposed and Typically-Developing Children
University of Nebraska-Lincoln



Post-doctoral position in language acquisition
Georg-August University Göttingen



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CONFERENCES
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Webinar series from Child Welfare League of Canada & UNICEF Canada
Health Outcomes and the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children
May 23 – June 27, 2012



Free Webinar: Developmentally Appropriate Technology Use- Practical Implications – A TEC Track Interview
June 6, 2012, 2 PM EDT



5th International Conference on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
February 27 – March 2, 2013
Vancouver, BC
Deadline for Abstract Submissions: May 31, 2012



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RESOURCES
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The Power of Partnerships: How to Create Meaningful Connections with Parents
Recorded Webinar from Head Start



The Condition of Education 2012
US National Center for Education Statistics



Early Childhood Robotics Network



The Baby Brain: Ten Myths
For Our Babies



Stepping Up for Kids: What Government and Communities Should Do to Support Kinship Families
The Annie E. Casey Foundation, 2012



Kinship Children in New York State: A Research Brief on Child Well-being
NYS Council on Children & Families



National Association for the Education of Young Children

The Reading Chair: Children’s book recommendations

Summer Learning with Children

Using Fanciful, Magical Language in Preschool



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GRANTS
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TEACH Grant Program
Grant Canyon University



Elizabeth Munsterberg Koppitz Child Psychology Graduate Student Fellowship
American Psychological Foundation



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NEWS
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The #earlyed Daily



What Happens When Toddlers Zone Out With an iPad
Wall Street Journal, 05/22/12



iPad may be the media darling, but the survey shows…
by Margaret A Powers, 05/21/12



In Rochester, Regents tout early education
democratandchronicle.com, 05/21/12



School districts reluctantly weigh ending kindergarten to obey tax cap
Lohud.com, 05/20/12



Child Care Resources Executive Director Received Women of Distinction Award
PearlRiverPatch, 05/19/12



The Economic Case for Early Education
LynnfieldPatch, 05/18/12



Should 5-Year-Olds Evaluate Their Teachers?
Good Education, 05/15/12



Bilingual Kids Are Better Multi-Taskers, Study Says
HealthDay, 04/06/12



Rx: Read to Your Baby
By LYNDA RICHARDSON, NY Times, 05/15/11



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OUTREACH
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Early Care & Learning Council

May 2012 Newsletter

Policy and Advocacy Update



Early Childhood Technology Today Survey 2
Teachers' Voices: Use of "Information Processing Technologies" in Programs that Serve Children Ages 2 through 8



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Asil Özdoğru, PhD
Evaluation Specialist

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Policy and Advocacy Update


Secretary Duncan and the Department of Education have announced a new Race to the Top District competition, one that is aimed squarely at the classroom level with a focus on the relationship between teachers and students.

The proposed competition offers nearly $400 million in grants and invites school districts to create plans for individualized classroom instruction aimed at closing achievement gaps and preparing each student for college and career.
The proposal offers competitive preference to applicants that form partnerships with public and private organizations to sustain their work and offer services that help meet students academic, social, and emotional needs, and enhance their ability to succeed.


Click here to learn more regarding eligibility criteria and application requirements for the grant.




Additional Highlights

The new competition asks districts “to show us how they can personalize and individualize education for a set of students in their schools,” noted U.S Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. “We need to take classroom learning beyond a one-size-fits-all model and bring it into the 21st century.”

The 2012 competition proposal will be available for public comment until June 8, and the Department of Education plans to release the application in July with an October submission deadline. Awards will be announced by the end of the year.

The size of the awards will depend on how many students are in the applicant's mix. The department anticipates giving out about 15 to 20 four-year grants, of up to $25 million each. Applicants serving 2,500 to 5,000 students can get $15 million to $20 million; those serving between 5,001 and 9,999 can get $17 million to $22 million, and those serving 10,000 students or more can get from $20 to $25 million. That's similar to the state round of Race to the Top, in which the size of the awards was based in part on population. And all applicants will have to spell out how they plan to continue their work once the money goes away.

Congress appropriated $550 million for Race to the Top this year. In addition to the district-level competition, $133 million of that money is going to another round for the states that very nearly missed getting a piece of the $500 million Early Learning Challenge Fund.

Stay tuned for more updates as details on the competition and application are released.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Early Childhood News


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CONFERENCES
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XVIII Biennial International Conference on Infant Studies
Minneapolis, Minnesota
June 7 - 9, 2012
Early Bird Registration Deadline: May 25, 2012



5th National Research Conference on Child and Family Programs and Policy
July 24-26, 2012
Bridgewater, Massachusetts
Last Day to Register is July 16, 2012



European Early Childhood Education Research Association
Aug 29 – Sept 1, 2012
Oporto, Portugal



National Conference in Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
October 18–20, 2012
Lawrence, Kansas
Abstract submission deadline June 20, 2012



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RESOURCES
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Free online access to Developmental Milestones Screening
Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition



Cool technology tools in early childhood
by Diane Bales



Interview with Jane Annunziata: Shy Spaghetti and Excited Eggs: A Kid's Menu of Feelings
American Psychological Association



Book: Scared Sick The Role of Childhood Trauma in Adult Disease
by Robin Karr-Morse with Meredith S. Wiley



Playing It Safe: Tips for Preventing Playground Injuries
National Association for the Education of Young Children



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GRANTS
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Mini Grants up to $500 to enhance children’s programs
New York State Association for the Education of Young Children



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NEWS
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Child care cost hikes derailing women's careers
By Eve Tahmincioglu, 05/16/12



The Power of Nursing
By DAVID BORNSTEIN, NYTimes, 05/16/12



English Language Learners Benefit from Preschool
By Emily Firgens, 05/15/12



Children's Mental Health At Risk From Chronic Financial Instability
Huffington Post, 05/15/12



Childhood Bipolar Boom: More Cases or Misdiagnoses?
By JANE E. ALLEN, ABC News, 05/11/12



Kids Are More Than Data Points
By James P. Steyer, 05/11/12



Supporting every child's right to a healthy future
By Dr. Gwendolyn Puryear Keita, APA, 05/12



Playing Make-Believe Prepares Kids for the Real World
American Psychological Association, 05/28/03



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ADVOCACY
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NAEYC Urges Congress to Give Mothers the Gift of High-Quality Child Care on Mother’s Day
May 11, 2012

NAEYC Children's Champions Alert



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Asil Özdoğru, PhD
Evaluation Specialist